No Time Limit shouldn't mean Training Mode

[sourisdudesert]

So, again

• We did not remove the possibility to play without time limit, we just made it non-competitive (= no elo).
• Please use "Training mode" (infinite sign on the new lobby) if you want to play with no time limit
• For those who want to still get/lose ELO points, you cannot do it without time limit BUT a very good alternative is to play with the slowest speed (1 move every 2 days), and even with that, if some player is over allotted time, you can ignore this and do not expel him/her.

[T72on1]

So again:

• I, like many others here, really like all your efforts to make this site as good as possible

• I, like many others here, really get the point of the changes by now. No need to reiterate them all the time

• I, like many others here, just don't agree that it's fair to say 'just use the slowest setting and it's no problem if you go over time, you are playing with people on your friends list, so they won't kick you'. Time systems are there for a reason, people shouldn't be forced to go over time if they want to play slow but still with something competitive like ELO. Moreover, if you state that people actually got trapped in no time limit games, even with friends, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't also happen that those 'friends' actually do kick you out for going over time

[Damac]

So again:

• I, like many others here, really like all your efforts to make this site as good as possible

• I, like many others here, really get the point of the changes by now. No need to reiterate them all the time

• I, like many others here, just don't agree that it's fair to say 'just use the slowest setting and it's no problem if you go over time, you are playing with people on your friends list, so they won't kick you'. Time systems are there for a reason, people shouldn't be forced to go over time if they want to play slow but still with something competitive like ELO. Moreover, if you state that people actually got trapped in no time limit games, even with friends, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't also happen that those 'friends' actually do kick you out for going over time

Agreed. My friend group and I had a no time limit game, where a player couldn't play for a while due to some issues, and it did eventually time out and cancel the game. We weren't upset at this at all, and certainly didn't complain to anyone asking for it to be removed from our play list. (We'd kept hoping he would be able to return and start playing again, he just unfortunately wasn't able to.)

Really, the only issue that maybe needed fixing was letting people know that it would eventually time out after several weeks, and that it wasn't truly "no time limit".

[Hebus72]

Hi,

I just discovered that it was not possible to create games with "No Time Limit" in competitive mode ... it's a shame.
I understand the problem of people getting trapped in such mode ... and I have 2 proposals to solve that (sorry if it has already been proposed, there is just too much to read and I didn't get the patience to go through it all !):

1. If no move has been played in, say, 30 days, the game is cancelled. (and I don't feel it is a way to escape losing as you are playing with "friends" ! So, there is either a major reason for them not playing or it won't stay a friend for long ! In any case, it will only happen once).
2. Instead of "No Time Limit", propose a "1 move per week" or "1 move per month" option. This should be enough to satisfy everyone.

Would that be feasible ?
Thanks

[Miftis]

If this is really more about elo abuse, then instead of cancelling the game from inactivity it should be treated like the person that caused the inactivity still gets the elo penalty like they did actually lose.

To keep reiterating what our options are when everyone is complaining we don't like those options does not seem helpful. I am wondering if no time limit is truly off the table if a longer time limit then 1 move every 2 days like many people have suggested could be implemented and if not, why not?

[Cotj]

Hi,

I just discovered that it was not possible to create games with "No Time Limit" in competitive mode ... it's a shame.
I understand the problem of people getting trapped in such mode ... and I have 2 proposals to solve that (sorry if it has already been proposed, there is just too much to read and I didn't get the patience to go through it all !):

1. If no move has been played in, say, 30 days, the game is cancelled. (and I don't feel it is a way to escape losing as you are playing with "friends" ! So, there is either a major reason for them not playing or it won't stay a friend for long ! In any case, it will only happen once).
2. Instead of "No Time Limit", propose a "1 move per week" or "1 move per month" option. This should be enough to satisfy everyone.

Would that be feasible ?
Thanks

By default a game will be canceled due to inactivity. I think right now it is a month or 5 weeks.

If it is a concern of these games running to long, I would be down with a 2 week max of inactivity.

[Cotj]

So, again

• We did not remove the possibility to play without time limit, we just made it non-competitive (= no elo).
• Please use "Training mode" (infinite sign on the new lobby) if you want to play with no time limit
• For those who want to still get/lose ELO points, you cannot do it without time limit BUT a very good alternative is to play with the slowest speed (1 move every 2 days), and even with that, if some player is over allotted time, you can ignore this and do not expel him/her.

My question is really, what is the logistical reason for removing it?
If it was removed due to tech difficulty, that is reasonable.
If it was removed because the team does not want it, then it sounds like there is a decent size population of active users that liked the feature.
From what I am seeing, people are not feeling "trapped," why not add a feature then when playing with all friends, you can quit a table? 50% have to agree or something? This allows the feature to stay and the small population that feels trapped by their own game will be able to quit.

[Jellby]

Would people be satisfied with a slow turn-based mode where the timer is simply hidden, but still active? Say, one move per 2 or 4 days, but no clock shown anywhere. When some player uses more than their allocated (but hidden) time, the rest of the players can expel him/her, or agree to abandon, as usual? All the benefits of an unlimited game between friends, without the possibility of being "trapped", or ELO cheating (at least no more than any other kind of game).

[Pettra414]

Please do not carry through with this. I cannot as eloquently express my thoughts as some in this thread already have. All I can do is add my voice to the chorus of do not take away the no time limit with friends option. We live over seas from many friends and family and this platform allows us to connect with them over a day of games and catching up. Playing in no time limit mode allows us to socialize and enjoy each other's company without the stress of a time clock. What is the down side to allowing no time limit with friends? Playing with friends no one is "trapped" in a game, they are able to leisurely take turns without turn notifications or a ticking clock. No one will be expelled from a game. This is not a well thought out or necessary change. Please do not do this.

[Silene]

Please do not carry through with this. I cannot as eloquently express my thoughts as some in this thread already have. All I can do is add my voice to the chorus of do not take away the no time limit with friends option. We live over seas from many friends and family and this platform allows us to connect with them over a day of games and catching up. Playing in no time limit mode allows us to socialize and enjoy each other's company without the stress of a time clock. What is the down side to allowing no time limit with friends? Playing with friends no one is "trapped" in a game, they are able to leisurely take turns without turn notifications or a ticking clock. No one will be expelled from a game. This is not a well thought out or necessary change. Please do not do this.

This sounds like you're playing live anyway? Why not just set up a turn-based table even though you're playing live? Is a clock showing 6 days of thinking time really hurt your experience or make you feel like "uh-oh... time's ticking"?
I kinda understand those who don't like to see the red clock in the negative. But for real-time-play this seems to be a non-issue tbh.